From Tilbury to Leningrad during the Cold War

- on the Nadezhda Krupskaya

The Nadezhda Krupskaya

On board

Looking at Leningrad

The cruise programme

I travelled on a Russian ship from Tilbury to what was then communist Leningrad. I was on a ship named after Lenin’s wife – Nadezhda Krupskaya. I was advised at the time of arriving at Leningrad not to take photos; not to take UK newspapers ashore and not to sell any clothes if asked especially jeans. Things were still delicate. When going on this cruise no armed forces were allowed or ex armed forces. Strangely on the way to Leningrad sitting at my table for dinner was a guy who always seemed a bit to worse for wear. He said he was a retired major. Strange, plus he wasn’t on the return trip.